Which statement best describes loose contamination?

• A. Measured by wiping with cloth or smear
• B. Measured by direct survey/frisking
• C. Measured by air sampling only
• D. Measured by dosimetry badge readouts

Answer: (A)

Loose contamination is material that sits on a surface and can be easily transferred. The way we quantify it is by wipe sampling: wipe a defined area with a cloth or smear, collect any removable material, and count the wipe to determine how much activity was on that area. The result is expressed as activity per unit area (for example Bq per cm^2) and compared to limits. This method directly measures what could be transferred during handling, which is why it is the appropriate test for loose contamination.

Direct survey or frisking detects contamination with a handheld instrument but does not provide a precise measure of removable contamination per area. Air sampling looks at airborne particles, not surface contamination. Dosimetry badges measure the dose received by a person, not how much contamination is removable from surfaces.